Media Makes Hillary Lose

Did the Media Put the Kibosh on Hillary's Campaign?

Call it an unintended consequence of a superattenuated campaign, but though I can't blame the media for being quick to jump on the "Hillary's Losing" bandwagon, I can't help but wonder if they haven't created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Is Hillary losing because we keep hearing she is?
And I'm certainly not blameless in the consumption of this notion — I have to remind myself that anything is still possible when I read campaign theories. Last week's New York magazine has an item called "Sliding Down-Hill" about which Hillary-supporting, NYC power-people stand to lose face when Hillary's media-hyped demise concludes. Is consuming this story way before its time, (or certainly before Mar. 4) harmful?

The media is absolutely killing Hillary. The media kills candidates and sets the "news" all the time... ALL. THE. TIME.
You want examples? Ok.
"YEARGHHHHHHHHH!" was only the scream heard round the world because the networks would NOT STOP PLAYING IT! Howard Dean very likely would have done much better in future states if everyone hadn't seen one scream 84 gazillion times. I like him as head of the DNC, but who knows? Maybe we'd be out of Iraq already if it weren't for this media blunder over four years ago! (Also, I've heard -- from people who were there -- that he was just firing up the crowd and if you were there and his giant 90" face wasn't staring at you from a flat screen, it was normal and not scary in the least.I)
Richardson, Dodd, and Biden were (very arguably) far more qualified than either Clinton or Obama. Richardson has been in the cabinet, the House, and is a governor in a state where a controversial national issue (immigration) is a big deal for goodness sakes! They were all dead from the get-go though since it was Hillary and Barack! Hillary and Barack!
After getting rid of the others, Barack was annointed as the golden angel who could do no wrong (PLEASE don't get me started. They are OK with his PLAIGIARISM!). After that Hillary had NO chance. None at all. Of course it is in large part due to the media. Yesterday on CNN, the top headline was something along the lines of "Does the media hate Hillary" and two and three were along the lines of "Barack pumping up numbers in Texas" and "Barack dazzles crowd." Um, I think CNN answered their own question.
I also think it's the voters choosing style over substance, but that's another post for another day.

Cabaker, you're right. But I don't feel sorry for someone who lives an insincere life in order to affect a certain outcome. If the foundation was bad from the beginning, how can anyone be surprised and in her case bitter when the plan goes awry. I don't think the press makes her come off badly because she was their darling for a long time. Their adoration was hers to lose and she did indeed lose it because she simply showed who she is, an ingenuine and insincere person who seems to believe that she's entitled to the presidency just because she wants it.

Wow, I can't believe you would take that story at face value.
First of all, the "quotes" they used against him were split up and lacked context. They didn't even use quotation marks (sign of protection from libel). He could have said those words in response to other campaign mud that has been thrown.
Seems like more campaign time speculation to me. They had absolutely nothing concrete.

Thank You designrockstar! You prove the point. I've been watching the national news and campaign coverage on MSNBC, CNN and Fox News and have seen no sign of this story. If it had been Hillary it would be on every news program all the time over and over.
You hit the nail on the head "Barack shows his true colors".

Having mostly formed my opinion of the candidates by watching their debates instead of reading news about them, I can say yes and no. I'm an Obama supporter, and yes, it does seem at the moment like the media favors Obama.
However, Clinton does not seem willing or able to help herself. She comes across as aggressive, emotional, and arrogant. Instead of taking opportunities to get it together- to appear calm, confident, and willing to work with all people, not just her target demographic, she does the weepy thing, the "shame on you" thing, runs roughshod over debate hosts- none of which has cast a flattering light on her public persona. So I think that there is a bit of a media bias, but her actions have fed into it and likely made it worse.

"Barack Obama has ratcheted up his attacks on NAFTA, but a senior member of his campaign team told a Canadian official not to take his criticisms seriously, CTV News has learned"
Barack shows his true colors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAJYMgX4JuU

I agree that they have been sexist and unfair to her at times, but I do NOT like the way her campaign has been run, especially with all the whining, "shame on you"s and special pleading. She's played the gender card and the weepy thing way too much IMO.

I get a little annoyed with the media getting blamed for everything. The media didn't make up the numbers, the canidates records speak for themselves, its up to you to make up your mind.
And yes, I am a memeber of the media, but still. :D

Obama Scares the heck out of me. He has a very limited knowledge of foreign affairs and foreign heads of state. He has piggy backed Hillary's Answers so often I wonder if he has any of his own. And yet people are falling at his feet. The man is so arrogant and creepy I cant believe the amount of positive press he gets.
All you here is how he and Hillary are so close in their views but no one says anything about the fact that it wasn't always so. Obama has adopted most of her views. And yes she voted for the war and he says he has been against it from the start. But the fact is he didn't have a vote. And since he has had a vote he has consitantly vote to support the war, although he stands on his pulpit and claims other wise.
Just to be fair Hillary is also very arrogant and had she does come off as a little to unyielding. She also needs to start taking responsibility for her mistake because she has made them. And I'm not so keen on here universal heath plan and its mandates.
But the bottom line is she really is more prepared to deal with the vast problems facing this country here at home and abroad. She has much better grasp on the economic down slide and a lot more experience dealing with foreign leaders and policies.
So you don't like her neither do I.
Is she the better candidate?
YES!
Has she been treated unfairly by the press?
YES!
Just my opinion!

Tres - You're funny!
I never thought I would feel bad for Hillary Clinton. But I honestly do feel like she's gotten the shaft. The media declared her DOA practically the instant they fell in love with Obama. And boy do they love Obama!
Thats how the cookie crumbles, its politics not a tea party. But I think why I feel bad for her is that I have always believed the only reason she stayed with Bill through his BS is because she wanted to be President. So imagine, you stay with this no good SOB just to get yourself in power, you pour your heart and soul into it, give up your whole life practically, and then some kid comes out of no where and messes it all up?
That sucks. It was stupid choice to begin with, but I bet part of her is wishing she left him and did something else with her life.

I'm glad to read all the comments on this thread. It is reminding me that I'm becoming a real grouch. Mostly because people tend to think that I'm basing my vote on a choice of pant suits, my dislike for women over 60, or coral lipstick colours, or news stories covering news. It is making me grumpy. Real grumpy. So, I'll leave the commenting for those who are still young at heart on the subject.
:fogey:

The reason Hillary is losing is Hillary. People have begun to examine her votes to go and stay at war 3times. She continues to want things her way. She was pro NAFTA when Bill was President, now that she is in Ohio attempting to win voters- she never supported Nafta. Which is a different slant when speaking to voters in Texas. She is smart and hard working but inflexible. She may be ready on Day one due to her intelligence but not with her temperament. Obama has consistently shown his integrity, experience and is able to remain calm " presidential" when fielding attacks. Obama 08

"I don't know about blue-collar Democrats, but I've heard quite a lot in the run-up to the Texas primary about how effectively Obama has eroded Hillary's lead among Hispanic voters. Hillary used to lead Obama by a 2-1 ratio among Hispanic voters; the last Gallup poll indicated that Obama actually has a very slight lead over her in that demographic now. Which means that he's taken away a lot of her Hispanic base."
You're right, Jude. He has eroded her lead with the Hispanic voters and I BELIEVE the same is happening with the blue-collar voters, apparently she's even losing the support of the women who were once at the base of her foundation. It IS the negativity that's gotten her where she is today. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm tired of the dirty politics and I do not fully believe she's really all about the people. I don't remember who said it before on another blog but Obama is different to McCain and Hillary where he hasn't been waiting 20+ years, climbing the political ladder to get to this point. He doesn't have that baggage and that is just one appealing thing about him. He's basically the only voice of reason out of the three major candidates. He rarely, if ever, makes attacks...he absolutely does not denigrate his opponents and he actually LISTENS to what they have to say, even if they're trying to rip his campaign to shreds. His dignity, his integrity is unsurmountable and I'm extremely proud to be a supporter of a candidate like Barack Obama.

"The vast majority of democrats were willing to vote for her in early sample polls, and I don't think they changed their minds because the discovered she has a vagina."
I read that to my mom on the phone just now and she busted up laughing.
It's funny because it is TRUE. Ditto on wanting to vote for a woman, but not quite willing to join the gender war and vote based on gender. It seems just as blind and biased.

I think the Clinton legacy is a large part of what has defeated Hillary. To some extent she has to carry the burden of Bill's policies, but she is not as likable as he is (in a "go to the corner bar and tell dirty jokes" sort of way). She seems very artificial, which makes her difficult to trust. She often seems to be playing the media, either by whining about being treated unfairly, or squeezing out tears to win a pity vote. (Not necessarily my angle on it, but how I think a lot of people perceive her.) Obama at least seems frank and sincere.
kaenai: I agree that voters should be sure they are well-informed. However, it's often difficult, our lives are so full. For instance, on weekdays I'm up at 4:45, leave at 6:30 to take kids to school, report to work at 7:15, leave at 3:45, then juggle pick-ups, one kid with an evening class three nights a week, another with frequent after-school activities, groceries, dinner, laundry.... I'm dead on my feet by 9 pm. Weekends are for catch-up and sometimes other kids' activities. DH works erratic hours so I can't usually count on him for assistance. It's almost Orwellian, these self-righteous elitists stay in control because we're too tired, busy and preoccupied to realize what they're up to.

This is what I believe, had Obama lost 11 states in a row, the media would not give him a chance to still win the nomination. They would have all but dropped him a long time ago, but because Hilary is a Clinton they're giving her a lot of leeway.

When you win by 75% and 80%, yes you are winning the majority of votes.
I think some of Hillary's "substance" is what makes her not likable. Not to say that you were implying this, but I don't think it is accurate to say that people are not voting for her simply for superficial reasons. How you run a campaign is reflective of how you would run a government, and I think her choices have caused her downfall.
The vast majority of democrats were willing to vote for her in early sample polls, and I don't think they changed their minds because the discovered she has a vagina.
I would LOVE to vote for a woman President, but I am not going to vote for someone whose policy I disagree with simply to further my gender.

Rca is right. The media does not like Hillary, and 50+ women are a no-no. It does not matter that she has substance, they don't care for her style.
She is not "likable"...
So sad. After all these years we have a viable woman candidate, and this is what happens.

look, they have 95% the SAME VIEWS.
She started out winning and getting all the attention - he attitude (acting like the winner in the begining), her negativity, her self-proclaimed "heated" comments about "meeting Obama in OH to discuss his tactics," and her "I'm a fighter" have lost this election for her.
She is not likable. It was her campaign and her demeanor that turned the public against her which in turn turned the media against her.